UNION TOWNSHIP (Union County) — Authorities arrested a Union County doctor and his brother who they say submitted nearly $52 million in fraudulent Medicare and private health care claims and billed for office treatments when he was out of the country.

The doctor, Amgad Hessein, 54, and his brother and office manager, Ashraf Sami, 56, were arrested Wednesday by investigators after an early morning raid of their office, Advanced Pain Management Specialists in Belleville. Through their office, formerly headquartered in Union Township, authorities said investigators believe the brothers netted up to roughly $5 million.

Hessein and Sami were both charged with second degree health care claims fraud and conspiracy, according to a Union County Prosecutor’s Office press release.

Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow said authorities began investigating the office after Sami reported a theft by an employee to the Union Township Police Department. During the investigation into the theft, Romankow said it became clear that Advanced Pain Management Specialists were involved in a "scheme of overbilling, upcoding and submitting fraudulent claims for treatments not rendered."

Authorities discovered that Hessein’s office billed the Medicare program nearly $52 million between January 2006 and July 2009, according to the prosecutor’s office release.

Romankow said bank records revealed that Hessein billed for treatments that he did not have the equipment to perform and billed patients for more costly treatments than were actually performed and billed for visits when patients were not in the office.

"Most brazenly on many occasions the doctor billed for treatments that he allegedly performed in his office while he was actually out of the country," said Romankow in a prepared statement.

Hessein submitted claims for every day of the year in 2006 and 2007 and on multiple occasions his billable house exceeded 24-hours, according to the release.

With the proceeds, investigators said Hessein and Sami purchased oceanfront real estate in New Jersey, commercial properties and several luxury vehicles. Authorities seized their vehicles, properties — including a $1.59 million home in Belmar — and numerous bank accounts, the release said.

Hessein and Sami are being held at the Union County Jail with Hessein being held on a $300,000 bail and Sami being held on a $200,000 bail.